In the areas affected by the floods, many homes were completely destroyed. This is the case in Pepinster, where the town and the insurers are starting a showdown. About fifty houses are to be demolished following an order from the mayor. But the insurance companies refuse for about twenty of them. They feel that their demolition is not necessary.
One of our teams met Guy. For the first time, he returns to what remains of his house. “Everything is dead. Freezer, cabinets unhooked from the walls, ceilings … nothing, nothing, nothing remainsHe confides, annoyed. He was stuck in his home for three days with his wife during the floods. They only drank rainwater.
Today, it is by chance that he learned that his home will be demolished. “By word of mouth, by going to the square. I ran into my direct neighbors, who have nothing at all. Their building is completely gone. And there I was given a form that my house was taken from the houses to be destroyed“, Guy explains.
In this case, the victims would be clearly the losers
We also interviewed Benoit. He comes to see his mother’s house. Will it be destroyed or not? He doesn’t know. The municipality and the insurance companies are in disagreement. “From then on, insurance would be limited to reimbursing only the costs that would have been necessary to repair the houses. And not the value of the house in terms of reconstruction. In this case, the victims would be clearly the losers“, he reacts.
The mayor asks for precise reports
A draft demolition order plans to raze 50 houses in Pepinster. The insurance companies oppose it for about twenty of them. “I therefore gave them the opportunity to send me a detailed report. So they have to enter the buildings. Let them give me arguments that are really valid to guarantee me that security will not be jeopardized now, but also in the future.“, indicates Philippe Godin, the mayor.
Insurance cannot prevent a demolition
Legal actions are therefore possible, even probable in the coming weeks. “The insurer has no power to oppose it. Only the owner of the building concerned could, if necessary, lodge an appeal for suspension, and an appeal for annulment before the Council of State.“, explains Jean-Marc Verjus, lawyer specializing in construction law.
Benoit would rather have his house destroyed
For disaster victims, it is on a case-by-case basis. Guy hopes his house will be demolished. “Frankly, I prefer to turn the page. One for me, and two for my wife. She is really affected. She no longer knows how to come back here on the scene. Tears… When she is at the end of the street, is already crying. So it’s not even thinkable“he said.
I wouldn’t want us to end up with wounded and dead
For the municipal authorities, it is urgent to act. The stability of several houses threatens public safety. “I would not want us to end up with wounded and dead, while these buildings were on the list, and for me represented a real danger.“, advances the mayor.
Several disaster victims are already planning appeals to the Council of State. Legal proceedings which could take several years.
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